Chinese vehicle maker GAC is reportedly investigating the manufacture of BEVs in Europe in order to avoid punitive EU import tariffs.

Reuters cited the comments of the manager of its international business.

GAC is showing the Aion V electric SUV at this week’s Paris Motor Show. It says the model is tailored for the European market and designed by an international team.

GAC says the Aion V can travel over 520 km on a full charge and that just 15 minutes of charging can give an extra 255 km of range.

In addition to the Aion V, GAC is bringing five other models to the show, emphasising the importance of the European market to GAC's future growth plans.

GAC international manager Wei Heigang told Reuters that GAC still viewed Europe as an important market that was relatively open but admitted the “tariffs issue definitely has an impact on us.”

On tariffs, he added that: "Local production would be one of the ways to resolve this,” according to the Reuters report. "We are very actively exploring this possibility," he said.